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Sunday, June 5, 2016

The 16th annual
Taste of Huntington Beach started on a beautiful Sunday, just in time for
lunch. Attendees not only nibbled on great food and sipped libations, their attendance
and ticket sales were part of a record high donation of $42,000 to the “Friends of the Children’s Library of Huntington Beach” charity which benefits the Children’s Department of
the Huntington Beach Public Library. Way to go everyone!

Avila’s El Ranchitoserved up a chicken chimichanga topped with avocado
sauce and chips with salsa. The exterior of the chimichanga was crispy and had
a nice flavor. The avocado sauce added a creamy element. The salsa was amazing
with a fresh zing from the garlic and onions and sweetness from nicely ripened
tomatoes. Rating: 4/5

BLKserved a layer of cucumber, pan seared ahi, fried
ginger, fresh ginger with a balsamic glaze. This bite packed a mighty flavor punch.
The cucumber and fresh ginger added a refreshing and zingy flavor while the ahi,
seared to perfection, melted like butter on the tongue. The balsamic glaze finished
with an addition of sweetness. The fried ginger was a nice surprise. Rating:
4.5/5

Gallaghers Pubserved up Bangers and Mash. Juicy sausage matched
perfectly with the thick mashed potatoes. The thick gravy made the dish with
rich flavor. Irish comfort food to the max! Rating: 5/5

Deli-Liciousserved up Caprese made with sliced roast chicken with
avocado, roma tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, basil chiffonade, and lemon caper
mayo on a ciabatta roll. The sandwich had an Italian flavor profile through its
use of tomato, basil, and mozzarella. But the chicken and avocado throw in a
California twist. They also served a Fresh & Fruity Salad made with
romaine, almonds, strawberry, peaches, and mandarin orange tossed with kiwi
vinaigrette. This was a light, refreshing salad with the fresh fruits and kiwi
vinaigrette. Great for summer! Rating: 4/5

Mother’s Marketserved up Pretty in Pink, a drink made with grapes,
apples, and beets. This healthy drink was actually very tasty. The sweet grapes
and apples pair well with the vibrant beets. Rating: 5/5

Ways and Means Oyster Houseserved up Market Fresh Ceviche with avocado, papaya,
and fried plantain. Fish was tender and flavors were nicely balanced. Not
overly sour or citrusy. Rating: 4.5/5

St. Marc Pub-Café Bakery
& Cheese Affinage served up a skewer of watermelon, feta, jalapeno, topped
with cilantro sea salt. The combination of flavors from the punchy feta, sweet
watermelon, spicy jalapeno, and refreshing touch of cilantro in the sea salt
made the perfect bite-sized snack. Rating: 5/5

Lemonadeserved up Soba Noodle with kimchi vegetables and
peanuts and Snap Pea Edamame. Soba noodles had a picnic-esque quality with their
cold noodle presentation mixed with kimchi flavor. The sweet flavor of snap
peas works well with the edamame, and is an OC Food Diva favorite! Rating:
4.5/5

Shades at The Waterfront
Beach Resort served up a PB&J with roasted macadamia nut butter and spicy
habanero pineapple jam. OMG! This sandwich was off the hook and a hot mess
(literally)! Hot off the grill with slightly spicy notes from the jam, and
melty macadamia nut butter. This was definitely worthy of The Best of the Best
award. Rating: 5/5

Lazy Dog Restaurant & Barserved their Caesar Salad and Pesto Chicken Pasta. The Caesar salad
was just okay. The dressing needed a little bit more flavor, maybe more
parmesan and anchovy. The fusilli pasta held up well to the pesto sauce. But the
addition of broccoli, onions, and chicken turned this bite into a meal. Rating:
3.5/5

Slapfish served
up Lobster Rolls. This mini version was just as awesome and strong with flavor
as its big brother. It was packed with lobster meat and so delicious! Rating:
5/5

Pizza Loungeserved up Buffalo Wings and Goat Cheese Fusilli
Pasta. The buffalo wings were meaty and had a nice spicy flavor. It had just the
right amount of heat without be overly spicy as to bury the flavor of the
chicken. The pasta had a rich, creamy texture and flavor picked up from the
goat cheese. It would be perfect for a meal if combined with cubed chicken
breast. Rating: 4.5/5

Chobaniserved up some favorites like Almond Coco Loco and
Strawberry Chocolate Truffle. Almond Coco Loco is OC Food Diva’s favorite
“flip” flavor with creamy coconut Greek yogurt mixed with almonds and
chocolate. Strawberry Chocolate Truffle is another great one with a decadent,
dessert flavor. Rating: 5/5

If you like what you saw and
read, save the date for next year’s Taste of Huntington Beach, April 30, 2017!

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About Me

OC Food Diva is a local foodie in Orange County, CA with 11 years experience in restaurants - from kitchen to service to menu & restaurant design. With an adventurous appetite, Chelsea scours Orange County (and the rest of the USA) for great eats.